Anti-Inflammatory Activity of a Honey Flavonoid Extract on Lipopolysaccharide-Activated N13 Microglial Cells

Neuroinflammation is an important contributor to pathogenesis of age-related neurodegenerative disorders as Alzheimer or Parkinson´s disease. Accumulating evidence indicates that inhibition of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation may become a reliable protective strategy for neurodegenerative processes. Flavonoids, widely distributed in the vegetable kingdom and in aliments like honey have been suggested as novel therapeutic agents for the reduction of the deleterious effects of neuroinflammation. In the present study, we investigated the potential protective effect of a honey flavonoid extract (HFE) on the production of proinflammatory mediators by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated N13 microglia. Our results show that HFE significantly inhibited the release of the proinflammatory cytokines as TNF-alpha and IL-1beta. The expressions of iNOS and the production of ROS were also significantly inhibited.

Accordingly, present study demonstrates that HFE is a potent inhibitor of microglial activation and thus a potential preventive-therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases involving neuroinflammation.